AUBURN - In another community, it could have just been any other day at the obstetrics and gynecology department, but for many Cayuga County residents, the re-opening of Auburn Memorial Hospital's maternity program was a family celebration, complete with the pink, white and blue balloons and teddy bears.

“We came here because we were born here together, and our sons were born here,” said Dorothy Dickman, who was at the obstetrics and gynecology re-birthday party celebration on Wednesday. “We even brought our birth certificates to prove it. My husband (Richard Dickman) and I were only born four hours and 15 minutes apart.”

For the Dickmans, and several other residents who were born in the hospital, the re-opening of the program, which was told to shut down more than a year ago by the state in order to save money, represented both the growth of the hospital and the community.

“We have got the right people, the right nurses and a brand new hospital right here,” said Richard Dickman. “They have all done a wonderful job with this program.”

Eric Allyn, the chairman of the hospital's board of directors, said it was the community's enthusiasm for the maternity unit that made the re-birthday party so successful.

To fit with the festive theme, the staff even decorated the hospital's auditorium in pink, blue and white ribbons, set up stuffed animals and made a collage of baby pictures donated by residents who were born at the hospital.

More than 100 people filled the seats, or stood around the perimeter of the room wearing small blue and pink pins that recognized them as former babies who were returning to the hospital they were born in.

“There were an awful lot of people here, and we were just re-opening a maternity ward,” Allyn said. “It took a lot of energy to turn this hospital around, and that energy is embodied here in the people that came to support us.”

But Dorothy said it was important for she and her husband to see the program thrive because of the history they shared with it.

Even several local politicians believed it was important for obstetrics to remain a part of the hospital's services. State Sen. Michael Nozzolio and Assemblyman Gary Finch each received a silver baby rattle during the ceremony to recognize their work in Albany to help the program. Together, the men were able acquire $6 million in funding for the hospital, which had filed for bankruptcy in 2007.

“It was important to keep this program because there is no community unless the community has access to viable, affordable, health care,” Nozzolio said. “The community is not going to succeed without the program because this facility is the key to the future. Without this program, there is no hospital. Without the hospital we can't bring in more jobs, we can't attract young people, and we won't be able to keep our senior citizens here.”

Staff writer Nate Robson can be reached at 253-5311 ext. 248 or nathan.robson@lee.net